Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha!

Monday, January 24, 2005

The Power Generation quiz and the Engineering Graphics "supplementary test" was okay. I'm glad it turned out well. Now, I just hope their results do go my way.

What happened since then? A few things, actually. Raya Aidiladha, or Raya Haji, came by last Friday, and it was, well, the usual Raya Haji for my family. We went balik kampung for one whole day, as usual. Went to visit both of my grandmothers. This time, we went back early, since Raya fell on a Friday. So, our community's korban was scheduled to be done on Saturday, as there weren't enough time to complete it before solat Jumaat.

Speaking of korban, every year, I feel a bit guilty every time the korban is held. I mean, I feel wrong being at home, while my father goes to the mosque to help carry out the korban. This happens every year, but this feeling of guilt began to take shape ever since I turn of age (i.e. ever since I'm no longer a school-going kid). As a 24 year-old, I somehow feel that I should help out, but on the other hand, I'm not that close to the members of our community. Since I'm not close, I'm afraid that if I were to go there and try to help, I'll just be a tunggul. Nobody asking my help, and I myself don't know what to do (as I'm not used to performing the korban).

But I have a plan. When I eventually move out from my family's home here, and enter into my own community when I have my own home, I'll make it a point to really join that community. I want to help out. I will be friends with them, and hopefully they will use the assistance I'm prepared to give. After all, eventually I will have to perform the korban myself. Can't just depend on our elders, as they're getting older. We young 'uns should eventually take their place.

Raya also means the return of my sis N from her National Service Camp. She's been there ever since December. Sedar tak sedar, it's already 2 months since she first set foot there. It makes me think that time flies real fast. Also makes me wonder: bila la nak siapkan projek ni!

Speaking of National Service, I'm lucky (at least in my opinion) that during my time, the National Service programme has not yet been introduced. I don't like those programs. I don't like doing things that are too tiring, except playing basketball. In basketball, at least there's an enjoyment being gained, in the sense that I'm getting better playing the sport, and I finally improve myself to the point that I can challenge other people. But doing those military training-style drills? Jungle trekking? Rappeling? Flying fox? Marching? Ugh. I fail to see the point in doing them. Yes I know, inadvertently, doing those things can have a positive effect on our personalities, but as I said earlier, I'm not into these physical things. :P

But N seems happy being there at the camp, and I'm glad she is. The last thing we want is for her to be gloomy in all the 3 months she's supposed to be there. Our family is glad that there isn't any untoward incidents happening in the National Service camps. I think you guys still remember what happened last year. The rape incident involving a student and an instructor. Rings a bell? Alhamdulillah, events along that line have yet to take shape this year, and we hope it never will. Ever.

Tomorrow is still a holiday, since it's Thaipusam tomorrow, and Uniten is in Selangor. But today, is not a holiday, and it means class is on! Bosannye... dah la kelas pukul 11 sampai 12 je pulak tu! It means I have to ulang-alik to Uniten today, as I don't plan to spend the whole of tomorrow there. I'd rather spend it at home. So, this afternoon, I'm planning to watch a movie. Eh, actually 2 movies! Hehehe... probably "National Treasure" and "Saw".

Have a good week guys!

P/S: Hmmm... by the way, I feel like asking this question to all of you. Is Starbucks halal? I felt a bit doubtful ever since my friend told me that it's not halal. The friend said they use an emulsifier in their drinks that are along the lines of those E471 thingies. And that emulsifier, according to my friend, contains ingredients of animal origin (pork). Is this true? Can somebody tell me, with definitive proof, whether it's okay to dine there? Coffee Bean, on the other hand, is definitely halal since it has the Malaysian Halal Certification (I've checked it at Jakim's website). But I just wonder... if Coffee Bean's okay for consumption, wouldn't that also make Starbucks okay too? After all, they both produce coffee drinks... I know in terms of ethics, it's not okay to buy Starbucks since they have that Israeli connection and all... But tell me whether it's really okay in terms of halal or not.


Posted by Nikman Shah at 7:31 am
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